Forbidden Land – CH 012

After dinner, Chen Rong contacted Zhang Chao. Zhang Chao had a large bulge in his backpack. Chen Rong asked in surprise, “What’s in your bag?”

Zhang Chao patted his backpack and said, “A super-powerful rechargeable flashlight, 30 watts.”

Chen Rong asked, puzzled, “Why are you carrying a flashlight to study?”

Zhang Chao chuckled, “You know the girl in ancient costume on campus?”

Chen Rong said, “I saw her online. I heard she’s a crazy woman. What’s wrong? You’re not going to go see her, are you?”

Zhang Chao said, “You’re really smart. You’re definitely studying psychology.”

Chen Rong asked, “Why do you want to see her?”

Zhang Chao said, “To catch that crazy woman and give her psychological counseling so she won’t bother me.”

Chen Rong asked, “You really want to go see the girl in an ancient costume?”

“Haha, are you scared?” Zhang Chao grinned smugly. He had no intention of telling her about how he was scared half to death by the girl in ancient costume the night before last.

Chen Rong was still puzzled: “What does this crazy woman have to do with you? Why go looking for her for no reason?”

Zhang Chao said, “The day Li Weihao died, the recording…” He quickly shut his mouth, knowing that the police and Teacher Liu had both told him not to say such things carelessly.

Chen Rong said, “The road? You saw her on the road?”

Zhang Chao said, “Yes, if you’re scared, don’t follow me.”

Chen Rong said incredulously, “You aren’t scared? You’re that brave?”

Zhang Chao laughed. “If you don’t have the skills, you can’t take on the job. The flashlight is just for lighting; I have other equipment!”

Chen Rong shook her head speechlessly, got on her bicycle, and went to study with him.

But when they reached the west section of the cafeteria, Zhang Chao didn’t stop; instead, he continued riding south along the road.

Chen Rong asked, puzzled, “Weren’t you going to study?”

Zhang Chao replied, “I’m going to the School of Medicine library to study.”

Chen Rong asked, “What are you going there to study for? There are hardly any people there.”

Zhang Chao smiled mysteriously and said, “Because that’s the only place I can find the woman in an ancient costume. This time, I’m going to find that lunatic.”

Chen Rong asked, “Why do you insist on finding her?”

Zhang Chao wanted to find her for two reasons. First, he was still bothered by the pair of feet in Li Weihao’s surveillance footage. Second, that thing had frightened him the day before yesterday. As a science student, he didn’t believe in ghosts and had to figure it out. Besides, he had bought equipment, so at least he wasn’t afraid now.

The two rode along Qizhen Lake from the west campus. It was early spring, and the sun set early. The afterglow still lingered, making Qizhen Lake shimmer beautifully.

Riding along, Zhang Chao casually remarked, “Heroes and beauties, only unlucky guys go looking for lunatics.”

Chen Rong smiled slightly, calmly ignoring his comment.

They quickly parked their bicycles and went outside. The sky was still bright. Zhang Chao glanced up at the Teaching Building; some classrooms still had lights on, indicating classes hadn’t ended yet, so he couldn’t find the woman in ancient costume.

The two went into the library. Today, the library was almost empty, with only a dozen or so students. Many had probably heard about what happened the day before and weren’t coming to study. Zhang Chao and Chen Rong studied until 9 o’clock. His original intention was to find the woman in an ancient costume, so he lost interest in studying and told Chen Rong to leave.

They walked to the back Teaching Building. Zhang Chao didn’t intend to get his bike. He looked up at the dark classrooms and took a deep breath, but there was no sign of the woman in ancient costume.

Chen Rong asked, “Are you really looking for that lunatic?”

Zhang Chao nodded.

Chen Rong said helplessly, “But mentally ill people don’t appear every day; how are you going to find them?”

Zhang Chao said, “Let’s try our luck. Do you dare come up to the Teaching Building with me?”

Chen Rong laughed. “Hehe, you life science students do animal experiments, right? It should be in the West Campus Science Building, right? We psychology students, although from the College of Science, have some courses that are the same as those in the School of Medicine. I’ve been here countless times.”

Zhang Chao nodded and smiled. “Then, Old Chen, shall we go up?”

Chen Rong was clearly annoyed that he called her “Old Chen”; she pouted and glanced at her junior, then followed him upstairs.

Zhang Chao took out his high-powered portable flashlight from his bag and then took out something that looked like a short stick.

Chen Rong asked curiously, “What’s this?”

Zhang Chao laughed, “A stun gun, 2000 volts.”

“Are you crazy!” Chen Rong shouted. “Even if the person is mentally ill, what if you electrocute them?”

Zhang Chao said, “I know what I’m doing, don’t worry. This is a safety stun gun. Although the voltage is high, it won’t kill anyone. Besides, this is just in case; I won’t use it carelessly.”

Chen Rong ordered, “Put it away first, then I’ll go upstairs with you.”

Zhang Chao glanced at her, and she said in an unquestionable tone, “Absolutely!”

Zhang Chao had no choice but to put the stun gun, which he had gritted his teeth to buy for over 600 yuan, back into his backpack. However, he left one end of the zipper ajar, just in case he had to quickly take it out.

The two went up to the second floor. It was completely silent. The stairwell was dark, with only the faint light from the streetlights outside. The north and south staircases at both ends of the corridor were pitch black. On the other side of the road in the distance lay a vast, undeveloped swamp, a desolate expanse that, if stared at intently, would send a chill down one’s spine.

Chen Rong followed closely behind Zhang Chao, who didn’t turn on his flashlight, afraid of alerting his target.

At this moment, Chen Rong subtly tugged at Zhang Chao’s sleeve. Startled, Zhang Chao immediately lowered his voice and said fiercely, “Big Sister, are you trying to kill me?!”

Chen Rong laughed and said, “You’re quite the coward, aren’t you? Hehe.”

Zhang Chao retorted angrily, “Don’t talk nonsense. Keep your voice down, walk quietly, and I’ll keep you safe with me.” Suddenly, Zhang Chao focused his attention and whispered, “What’s that sound?”

Seeing that he wasn’t joking, Chen Rong also listened intently. After a moment, she said, “There’s no sound at all.”

Zhang Chao took a deep breath and said, “It seems to have disappeared again.”

Chen Rong laughed. “It’s probably the construction site outside. Look at you, daring to date a woman in an ancient costume.”

Zhang Chao ignored her, stood at one end of the corridor, quickly switched on his flashlight, and shone it at the other end. Empty, nothing at all.

“Let’s go,” Zhang Chao called out, continuing towards the third floor.

Before even reaching the third floor, Zhang Chao suddenly stopped and whispered, “Listen, what’s that sound?”

“Thump, thump.” Every three or four seconds, two “thump” sounds rang out, sounding particularly eerie in the quiet, dark stairwell.

This time, Chen Rong heard it too: “It sounds like… it sounds like someone knocking on a door.”

“It’s upstairs! Stay close to me.” Zhang Chao lowered his body and quietly made his way up. He reached the fourth floor, and the sound was still there; he reached the fifth floor, and the sound was still there.

Without a doubt, the sound was coming from the sixth floor.

The sixth floor, again the sixth floor!

Zhang Chao’s face couldn’t help but tense up.